For the last time, maybe, upon the knoll I stand. The eve is golden, languid, sad.... Day like a tragic actor plays his role To the last whispered word, and falls gold-clad. I, too, take leave of all I ever had.
They shall not say I went with heavy heart: Heavy I am, but soon I shall be free; I love them all, but O I now depart A little sadly, strangely, fearfully, As one who goes to try a Mystery.
The bell is sounding down in Dedham Vale: Be still, O bell! too often standing here When all the air was tremulous, fine, and pale, Thy golden note so calm, so still, so clear, Out of my stony heart has struck a tear.
And now tears are not mine. I have release From all the former and the later pain; Like the mid-sea I rock in boundless peace, Soothed by the charity of the deep sea rain.... Calm rain! Calm sea! Calm found, long sought in vain.
O bronzen pines, evening of gold and blue, Steep mellow slope, brimmed twilit pool below, Hushed trees, still vale dissolving in the dew, Farewell! Farewell! There is no more to do. We have been happy. Happy now I go.
Alone on the shore in the pause of the night-time I stand and I hear the long wind blow light; I view the constellations quietly, quietly burning; I hear the wave fall in the hush of the night.
Long after I am dead, ended this bitter journey, Many another whose heart holds no light Shall your solemn sweetness, hush, awe, and comfort, O my companions, Wind, Waters, Stars, and Night.
It was deep night, and over Jerusalem's low roofs The moon floated, drifting through high vaporous woofs. The moonlight crept and glistened silent, solemn, sweet, Over dome and column, up empty, endless street; In the closed, scented gardens the rose loosed from the stem Her white showery petals; none regarded them; The starry thicket breathed odours to the sentinel palm; Silence possessed the city like a soul possessed by calm.
Not a spark in the warren under the giant night, Save where in a turret's lantern beamed a grave, still light: There in the topmost chamber a gold-eyed lamp was lit-- Marvellous lamp in darkness, informing, redeeming it! For, set in that tiny chamber, Jesus, the blessed and doomed, Spoke to the lone apostles as light to men entombed; And spreading His hands in blessing, as one soon to be dead, He put soft enchantment into spare wine and bread.